Quebec priest sues LifeSiteNews.com for defamation

From the B.C. Catholic:

Father Raymond Gravel in the Foyer of the House of Commons in 2007Father Raymond Gravel's lawsuit could shut down website
By Deborah Gyapong

OTTAWA (CCN)--Father Raymond Gravel, a Quebec Catholic priest who served as a Bloc Quebecois MP from 2006-8, is suing LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) for defamation.

“We’ve been online since 1997, but this could indeed shut us down,” said LSN editor John-Henry Westen.

Father Gravel, who is incardinated in the Diocese of Joliette, is seeking $300,000 for the attack on his reputation and consequent pain and suffering, and another $200,000 in punitive damages for what he calls a voluntary, intentional and malicious attack.

“I am against abortion but LifeSiteNews.com says always I am for abortion,” Father Gravel said. “The LifeSiteNews presents me, a priest, as pro-abortion.

Father Gravel added he does not think the best method to combat abortion is through the Criminal Law, but through education, and teaching young people to be responsible about sexuality.

“I am not pro-abortion,” he said. “I am against abortion.” He noted that he did research on countries where abortion is forbidden and said some 70,000 women died of illegal abortions. “It is horrible.”

“We must work with women, not against women,” he said.